How to connect angel eyes to interior lights

LouieViktor · #1 07-04-2019, 03:02 PM

Hey guys.

I want to connect my angel eyes to the interior lights, so when i unlock the car the angel eyes turn on (it would be great if i can connect the fog lights aswell)

Is this possible?

crystalworks · #2 07-04-2019, 03:37 PM

Not without rewiring. Tell us some info about your x5.

LouieViktor · #3 07-04-2019, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Not without rewiring. Tell us some info about your x5.

Its 3.0i 2005

crystalworks · #4 07-05-2019, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouieViktor

Its 3.0i 2005

Your using OE angel eyes I assume since you have an LCI with the "permaseal" headlights. After rewiring you will have to code out cold monitoring of the angel eyes in the LCM or you will keep getting errors.

There are a few ways to wire this. I have aftermarket angel eyes on mine so I ran all new wiring. Using the OE angel eyes you could cut the power wires for them and tap into the interior lights in the footwells. Doing it this way however will only have the angel eyes light up when the interior lights are on, so not while driving unless you turn on the lights with the overhead switch. But who wants that?

The way I did this was to tap into the interior lights AND tap into a +12v ACC in the engine bay. Using a relay it switches from powering the angel eyes with the interior lights upon lock/unlock as the lights turn on. And then when the truck is started it switches over to powering the angel eyes via the +12v acc line. I can post a diagram if you want to go this route.

Edit: Here is a link with pictures to someone else's install but who used the same wiring method. Also a diagram from back in the day when angel eyes first started showing up on BMW's.

https://xoutpost.com/125945-post26.html

bcredliner · #5 07-04-2019, 04:17 PM

Mine are activated anytime the interior lights come on. If I recall correctly all I did was run a wire with inline fuse to a slot in the fusebox that is live whenever interior lights are activated--locking or unlocking open door or hatch. Only downside if you consider it as one is that if a door or the hatch is open they stay on until they time out. There are also on anytime the key is in run position. They've been that way for several years, no problems.

wpoll · #6 07-04-2019, 04:44 PM

BC, I'm guessing your angel eyes aren't run from the LCM, as they are after-market headlights? I'm not sure how well your simple mod will work with the LCI factory angel eyes that powered via the LCM module - powering via another source can back-feed power to the LCM and bad things can happen. Diodes are your friends here...

bcredliner · #7 07-05-2019, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpoll

BC, I'm guessing your angel eyes aren't run from the LCM, as they are after-market headlights? I'm not sure how well your simple mod will work with the LCI factory angel eyes that powered via the LCM module - powering via another source can back-feed power to the LCM and bad things can happen. Diodes are your friends here...

Oops, didn't notice discussion was about factory angel eyes. Yes, they are aftermarket. . No, not controlled by LCM. Mine is 2002. I had one headlight the was old style that opened easily and one the was sealed that took hours to get open without damaging anything.

Since mine are also on when the key is in running position I checked wiring and I do have a relay switch. I am getting old and the install was several years ago. Recommendation for best angel eyes and install came from here. I remember there was a discussion thread.